Exhibitor

Toolbox

Running a competition at an event

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Running an event-exclusive competition is a great way to attract visitors to your stand.

You can even ask for something in return! This is a great opportunity to build your mailing list for future advertising.

Identify your goals

Have a goal in mind before you start, so you can plan and execute your giveaway to achieve something at the end.

Some examples are:

Match the prize to your brand

Pick a prize that is relevant to your broad audience. The prize is the incentive, but you should use that opportunity to talk about how your business and your prize are relevant to each other.

One of your own products is a great choice, but may not always be possible. If you sell gym memberships, do you think your audience would be more receptive to new sports gear or a large pizza?

How about giving away a phone or tablet preloaded with your company app?

It's not about dollar value or size

A huge prize can be intimidating. Given the choice between entering the draw for a car or a food hamper, the smaller prize may seem more achievable regardless of the size of the entry pool.

While a big prize is fantastic, it could be too ambitious.

Your prize needs to be easy for people to fit into their life. Winning a new bathroom may seem like a dream come true, but you've automatically excluded everybody who doesn't own their own home, or quite likes their existing bathroom. Installing a bathroom involves time and disturbance on the winner's part, and potentially could incur extra costs if they need to make structural changes to their home.

Something fun and unique is always a great choice. What can you offer that nobody else can, like a behind-the-scenes experience or the chance to be a product tester.

Make it easy to enter

Don't put up roadblocks to entering your competition.

If you request a lot of personal information or ask people to jump through hoops to meet your entry criteria, people will simply move on.

Make entering fun

Entering a competition doesn't have to mean filling in yet another boring form. Make it fun, and entries will skyrocket.

Celebrate your winners

After establishing a winner, contact them promptly. Then tell the world!

Announce the results on your website, blog and social media. Make sure you get the winners' permission if you're going to use their photo or full name, and make a big deal out of it!

Designing a competition from your stand at a trade show event - Exhibitor Toolbox - Bay Events

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